From the staff at the Northampton Community College Libraries in Bethlehem and Tannersville, Pennsylvania.

Monday, November 24, 2008

A Little Slice of Heaven

Thanksgiving dinner just wouldn’t be the same without the traditional slice of pumpkin pie at the end – and there’s no better breakfast than leftover pie the next morning. But maybe you’d like to spice things up a bit this year, with an exciting new dessert recipe to share with family and friends. The NCC Libraries can help!

Just take a walk down the TX call number aisle of the Stacks, and you’ll find a variety of cookbooks containing recipes for all occasions (and skill levels). The best cookbooks for beginners are those featuring detailed illustrations, so it’s easy to see how your project should look.

Don’t let the idea of making pie crust intimidate you -- the secret is using the proper equipment. Just lay a piece of waxed paper on the counter and dust with flour. Use your rolling pin (or even a clean glass bottle) to flatten out the pastry, starting from the center and pushing out toward the edges, rotating the waxed paper as you go, like spokes on a wheel. When the crust is big enough to cover the inside of the pie plate, slide your hand under the waxed paper and carefully flip the dough into the pan. Gradually peel the waxed paper away from the crust, and trim the edges.